(ANSA) - As Ferrari cars continue to limp unhappily around the world's Formula 1 tracks, Italians appear to be losing interest in the sport they have traditionally loved.
Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, once a red letter day for the nation's sports fans, this year drew a disappointing 60,000 people. Over the three days of the weekend, the numbers were 20% down on last year.
Back in 2000, when Michael Schumacher was heading for his first championship title with Ferrari, some 160,000 people turned out at the Monza circuit to cheer him through the three days.
On Sunday Schumacher lost even the mathematical possibility of retaining his world title. He finished 10th and scored no points for the fifth time this season. Ferrari's failure to be competitive at any point this season has come as a shock to fans who have been used to continual triumphs. As well as Schumacher's five titles, Ferrari also won six constructors' titles in a row.
But the problem - at least where the Italian Grand Prix is concerned - is also said to be the price of the tickets, which start at 50 euros for a spot on an unshaded piece of grass near one of Monza's bends.
At a time when the Italian economy is struggling and sports fans are feeling the pinch, the cost of tickets may seem excessive when the race can be seen on TV for free. Apart from Ferrari not winning races, there are no Italian drivers that the nation can get excited about.
Giancarlo Fisichella has been performing quite well at Renault and is sixth in the standings. But he is hopelessly in the shadow of teammate Fernando Alonso, who is on course to be the youngest F1 world champion ever.
Jarno Trulli has also done reasonably well at Toyota this year and is fifth in the standings. But he never seems to win races and always appears to be among the good-but-not-good-enough group. Given the situation it is hardly surprising that both Ferrari and Formula 1 management are looking with great interest at the possibility that MotoGP star Valentino Rossi may one day swap two wheels for four.
The reigning MotoGP champ is adored by sports fans in Italy and the rest of the world for his genius on the track, his taste for joking around and his general charisma. Rossi has already tried out a Ferrari Formula 1 car several times and, according to the team's technical director, he will continue to do so every month over the winter.
The prospect of having Rossi in the cockpit of Ferrari would probably be enough to kick most Italian sports fans out of their apathy and ensure huge crowds at Monza and at Imola. home to the San Marino Grand Prix.
Lurking in the back of everyone's mind would be the thought that he could be the first Italian driver to win a title in a Ferrari since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
